CMI Defence outlines UAV integration

Speaking to Jane’s at the IQPC International Armoured Vehicles 2018 conference, a representative from CMI Defence said that the integration was completed approximately 18 months ago following a request from the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA).

Currently offered on the company’s Cockerill 3000 series of modular turrets and armed with weapons ranging in calibre from 25 mm to 105 mm, the UAV pairing is controlled by the commander through his control station joystick.

The UAV – initially a Thales SpyRanger, but potentially any UAV system, according to CMI Defence – could be used to support indirect fire out to between 8 km and 12 km with the 105 mm gun, in addition to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); battle damage assessment (BDA); and battlefield management tasks.

While not currently available on the company’s other 90 mm turrets, the CSE 90LP and LCTS 90MP, such an integration could be a future development of the system.